Noise Management

The Salem Airport strives to be a good neighbor to those who live near the airport and ecourage pilots to mitigate noise when possible over the noise sensative areas, without compromising safety. Below are some steps and tips offered by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Helicopters who train at the Salem Airport, you are encouraged to contact the Air Traffic Control Tower and ask to fly in a tighter pattern specifically designed for helicopter operations.

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Noise Awareness Steps

If practical, avoid noise-sensitive areas. Make every effort to fly at or above 2,000 feet over such areas when over flight cannot be avoided.

Consider using a reduced power setting if flight must be low because of cloud cover or overlying controlled airspace or when approaching the airport of destination. Propellers generate more noise than engines; flying with the lowest practical RPM setting will reduce aircraft noise substantially.

Perform stalls, spins, and other practice maneuvers over uninhabited terrain.

Familiarize yourself and comply with local airport noise abatement procedures.

On takeoff, gain altitude as quickly as possible without compromising safety. Begin takeoffs at the start of a runway, not at an intersection.

Use PAPI. This will indicate a safe glide path and allow a smooth, quiet descent to the runway.

Retract the landing gear either as soon as a landing straight ahead on the runway can no longer be accomplished or as soon as the aircraft achieves a positive rate of climb. If practical, maintain best-angle-of-climb airspeed until reaching 50 feet or an altitude that provides clearance from terrain or obstacles. Then accelerate to best-rate-of-climb airspeed. If consistent with safety, make the first power reduction at 500 feet.

Fly a tight landing pattern to keep noise as close to the airport as possible. Practice descent to the runway at low power settings and with as few power changes as possible.

If possible, do not adjust the propeller control for flat pitch on the downwind leg; instead, wait until short final. This practice not only provides a quieter approach, but also reduces stress on the engine and propeller governor.

Avoid low-level, high-powered approaches, which not only create high noise impacts, but also limit options in the event of engine failure.

Flying between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. should be avoided whenever possible.

Note: these are general recommendations; some may not be advisable for every aircraft in every situation. No noise reduction procedure should be allowed to compromise flight safety.

SAFETY ALWAYS COMES FIRST!